6 of the Best Street Food Spots in London

With it’s incredibly diverse makeup, London offers an amazing range of street food options all across the city. Having lived in and around London our entire lives, we’ve had plenty of time (and room in our stomachs) to try the array of cuisines available. From burgers and bagels to dumplings and pitas, the street food scene has something to satisfy any craving.

While London street food continues to evolve, a few tried and true spots have remained longtime favourites that we can’t get enough of. These signature dishes keep calling us back time and time again whenever we’re in the area.

This article breaks down just a small selection of our favourite street food finds in London. There’s a mix of established classics and newer offerings that have become instant favourites, so join us on a mini tour of our go-to street eats that no trip to London would be complete without.

Beigel Bake

Starting off with a certified London institution, Beigel Bake on Brick Lane is one of the capital’s most popular street food spots. This traditional Jewish style deli was founded in 1974 and serves the East End 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by serving up over 7,000 bagels every day. On the menu, you’ll find a variety of classic bagel fillings such as smoked salmon with cream cheese or chopped herring as well as a selection of pastries and cakes (don’t miss the baked cheesecake).

However, the most popular item on the menu and the reason you’re likely to see queues out the door any time of the day is their iconic salt beef bagel. The combination of their freshly made bagels, salt beef, mustard and gherkins is divine. The meat to bagel ratio is outrageous in the best possible way and the crunch of the gherkins tops it all off. We’d recommend grabbing one to eat straight away and another one to save for later on when you’re still thinking about how good the first one was.

Beigel Bake Brick Lane Bakery – 159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB (Closest station – Shoreditch High Street)

Dumpling Shack

Still hungry? Head just down the road from Beigel Bake to the historic Spitalfields Market. There a ton of great choices for food in here (hold tight Bleecker Burger, one of our favourite burger joints) but our pick of the bunch is Dumpling Shack. You’ll find them dishing out dumplings and hand-pulled noodles from their market stand everyday of the week from 11am until approximately 6pm every day (weekend hours may vary)

Whilst we can vouch for the quality of their noodles, the dish that keeps us coming back time and time again is their signature shengjianbao or pan fried pork soup dumplings. These bundles of joy are very similar to the more well known xiaolongbao but are made with a slightly thicker dough. Underneath the soft exterior you’ll find a pork mince filling swimming in a pool of deliciously savoury broth. This broth can be scaldingly hot when you get your order so don’t try to bite in right away. The secret we’ve learned is to bite a hole through the top of the dumpling and give it time to cool. Once it’s cooled enough, you can enjoy the soup and filling inside.

Dumpling Shack – Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street, London E1 6BG (Closest station – Liverpool Street)

Burger & Beyond

We like to think that we’re experts when it comes to burgers in London. We’ve visited dozens of spots across the city and have comprehensive mental list of which are our favourites for different types of burgers. There is however, one option that stands out above the rest and that is Burger & Beyond. Although not technically street food since graduating to 3 brick and mortar locations, we think they’re a fair inclusion due to their food truck origins.

We first came across Burger & Beyond at the National Burger Day event at Hawker House where they served up the best burger we’ve had to this day. Since then, we eagerly awaited their first restaurant location which opened in Shoreditch in later that year. Our favourite from their menu is the BBB or Bacon Butter Burger which consists of a dry-aged patty, double American cheese, crispy pancetta, burnt butter mayo and onions. Their burgers are just the right thickness and come cooked to a perfect medium. When combined with the smoky saltiness of the pancetta, the creaminess of the mayo and cheese and the fresh acidity of the onions, we think this is hands down the best burger in the city. Make sure to check out their sides as well, we’re big fans of their dirty and truffle tots.

Burger & Beyond – Shoreditch, Borough Yards and Soho

Good Friend Chicken

The most centrally located spot on our list, you can find Good Friend Chicken on Little Newport Street, just behind Leicester Square and right on the edge of Chinatown. This Taiwanese fried chicken spot is popular with local and tourists alike and always busy due to it’s central location, so be prepared for a bit of a wait.

The menu is focused around 3 main items, the huge crispy chicken breast, popcorn chicken and their volcanic chicken, a fried chicken breast with a gooey cheese centre. Our favourites are the popcorn chicken and the crispy chicken breast but what really sets this place apart from the hundreds of chicken shops in London is the array of exotic toppings. Lined up across the counter you’ll find a dozen or so spice mixes in shakers to add to your meal. We’d recommend going for the seaweed, plum, chilli, salt and pepper or a combination of these four to spice up your meal.

Good Friend Chicken – 14 Little Newport Street, London WC2H 7JJ (Closest station – Leicester Square)

Pockets

Heading back out east, you’ll find Pockets in Netil Market near London Fields in Hackney although at the time of writing in August 2023 this location is actually closed. They are however relocating to a nearby brick and mortar site in the Autumn so once those details are confirmed we’ll be sure to update this article with the relevant information. The guys at Pockets serve up absolutely incredibly plant-based filled pitas that will blow you away. These freshly baked fluffy pitas come stuffed with freshly fried falafel, cabbage salad, hummus, tahini, chilli and a crispy deep fried potato.

Things may change a little when they open the doors to their new eatery but at their Netil Market location they were prone to occasionally prone to selling out so it’s worth checking their Instagram ahead of time to be safe. There was also usually a long wait so get down early, get your order and then grab a drink from one of the nearby bar they’re prepping your food. Trust us, they are oh so worth the wait.

Pockets – Location TBC Autum 2023 

Dom’s Subs

Last but by no means least on this list and continuing our east London love affair is Dom’s Subs AKA Impeccable Sandwiches. They have steadily built their reputation as the masters of sandwiches and get our vote for the best in the city. The menu features a delectable line up of staples as well rotating specials to keep things interesting.

The personal favourite the Spicy D consists of spicy schiacciata, salami Napoli, house-made ham, provolone cheese, nduja mayo and Calabrian chillis topped with onions, rocket and chilli oil. At the other end of the spectrum you’ll also find more paired down options like the Just Tomatoes which let’s the main ingredient doing the talking, simply adding salt, olive oil and a garlic crumb to some chunky British tomatoes.

Certain menu options are prone to selling out so be sure to get your order in early to avoid disappointment. You won’t find much seating inside this small counter service eatery so we’d recommend taking a short stroll to nearby Haggerston Park to enjoy your sub.

Dom’s Subs – 262 Hackney Road, London E2 7SQ (Closest station – Hoxton)

Wrapping Up

While we barely scratched the surface of the amazing street food London has to offer, we hope this guide provides a taste of some of our favourites. Exploring London’s diverse neighbourhoods is the best way to discover the city’s hidden gems. Just wander into an appealing market or follow your nose to whichever stand draws you in.

Some of the best meals eats in the city holes come from holes in the wall or food stalls off the beaten path. That’s the beauty of street food, stumbling upon new vendors serving up fresh, mouthwatering cuisine from around the globe, often at prices that can’t be beat. Next time you’re visiting, let us know if you discover any new street food spots that we should add to our list.